“Old 97’s leader Rhett Miller is at his most messed up best on the new hard luck song ‘Total Disaster’” – Rolling Stone

THE MESSENGER sees Old 97’s front man Rhett Miller playing it faster and looser than perhaps any other time in his quarter century career, instilling what might be his most personal songs to date with a groovy limberness that belies the reflective darkness within. Backed by a white hot backing combo, Miller goes deep into his own youthful experiences with suicide and depression, placing “a long distance phone call to myself as a 14-year-old” on surprisingly buoyant new songs like  “Permanent Damage” and “I Used To Write In Notebooks.”

“I wanted this record to be less safe,” Miller says. “I wanted to put myself in the hands of a producer who was going to do things that I didn’t expect; I wanted to play with people I didn’t know and be surprised by what they came up with. And all of that really came to pass. That’s what you’re getting this record. You’re getting this locked-in rhythm section with a crazy, psychedelic guitar maestro playing along with me singing my songs about depression and insecurity.”

1. Total Disaster
2. Did I Lose You At I Love You
3. Wheels
4. You Were A Stranger
5. Human Condition
6. Close Most of the Time
7. I Used To Write In Notebooks
8. Permanent Damage
9. I Can’t Change
10. Bitter/Sweet
11. We’re In Trouble
12. Broken

NOVEMBER

08 – Stanhope, NJ – The Stanhope House (Rhett solo)

09 – Exeter, NH – The Word Barn (Rhett solo)

10– Exeter, NH – The Word Barn (Rhett solo)

Opening for Old 97’s Holiday Shows

NOVEMBER

28 – Seattle, WA – The Neptune

29 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom

30 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore

DECEMBER

1 – Los Angeles, CA – The Troubadour

2 – Solana Beach, CA – The Belly Up

6 – Richmond, VA – The National

7 – Philadelphia, PA – TLA

8 – Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live!

9 – Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair

13 – Asbury Park, NJ – The Wonder Bar

14 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza

15 – Pittsburgh, PA – Mr Smalls

29 – Dallas, TX – Statler Ballroom